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Saturday, February 8th, started out a little damp (thanks, weather guys!) but for 12 waterproof Mustangers it was a great day. Yes, the weather folks were wrong and Baton Rouge experienced some rain as we gathered in Port Allen for our February cruise. However, all precipitation quit before we made it to the Achafalaya Bridge as we headed west towards Lafayette. The group exited I-10 at the Cecilia/Henderson exit and then proceeded southwest along back roads to Bayou Teche and then south along the bayou to the Cajun town of St. Martinville. There we had a delicious meal at The St. John Restaurant. The people there were very accommodating and the menu offered almost too many choices! After our meal, the group made the 2-3 block jump over to the Evangeline Oak Park which was the primary setting for Longfellow’s poem “Evangeline”. After taking some pictures there, the cruise left St. Martinville and headed towards Breaux Bridge to Lake Martin for a Swamp Tour. Allan with Champagne’s Swamp Tours was our Captain and guide as we took the 2 hour boat tour around Lake Martin. During the tour, we saw numerous species of birds including Blue Herons, Ospreys, and Bald Eagles. We also saw some alligators up close.

All in all, it was good time even though I’m sure the four Mustangs that made the trip had to be cleaned up again afterwards. Club members that participated are: Mark Moran & wife, Larry Maier, Ronnie Martin & wife, Doug Blake, Kerry & Nancy Hicks, Gary Marino, Steve Poirrier, and Jim & Debbie Freyder. There is more to see in the St. Martinville area so I am confident that the club will be returning to this area sometime in the future.

The “Mustangs Take Flight” MCA National Show took place in Houston, TX at the Lone Star Aviation Museum on March 29-31, 2019. This was the first national MCA show for 2019 and the closest national show to Louisiana since 2017. Our club had great attendance there with somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 members and cars but I might be missing some. Among those in attendance were: Dale Olano, Mark Moran, Larry Maier, Bob & Dianne Leche, John Canfield, Mickey Graphia, Gary Marino, Matt Pfister, Louis Lagattuta, Bobby & Brenda Harris, Bobby Harris Jr., Freddie & Linda Housewright, Cindy & Joey Guidroz, Charles Hollier, Derrick Patterson, Bobby Spedale, Kerry Hicks, and Jim Freyder.

Roughly 10 of us travelled together on Thursday meeting for 9AM in Port Allen and after a traffic filled but uneventful trip arrived in Houston at the show host hotel around 3:30PM. The Hilton NASA Clear Lake Hotel was nice but it was disappointing to discover that the hotel was 11 miles away from the show site. After getting settled, most of us met for dinner at Mamacita’s Mexican Restaurant.

On Friday morning there was was light rain in the Houston area so it took some extra time getting the cars ready for the show. Upon check-in at the Lone Star Aviation Museum show site (which is at the Ellington Airport), the first thing entrants did was drive onto the taxiway to take a picture in the car with two P-51 Mustangs. Very cool!!! Then entrants were sent to park in their designated areas which were divided by judging class or display only cars. All participants had access to the Lone Star Aviation Museum displays, flight simulators, and shops during the 3-day show. One disappointment was the single food vendor at the site. Another disappointment was the fact that there were very few automotive vendors at this show.

Most of us spent Friday getting the cars ready for judging and many were judged on Friday afternoon which made for more relaxed days on Saturday & Sunday. On Friday night, the gang met at Landry’s Restaurant in the Kemah Boardwalk area alongside Galveston Bay. In everyone’s show goody bag was a coupon for a free appetizer from Landry’s so why not eat there! Due to some “interesting” service, our dinner lasted 2 1/2 hours but I think everyone enjoyed themselves anyway. Saturday was a gorgeous day weather-wise even though it was a bit windy and there was a slight threat of rain in the afternoon. Some of the vintage aircraft made flights over the show field and you could also purchase rides in some of them (ask Bobby Harris about his flight). The weather turned cold on Sunday so most of us spent the day inside the museum building and waited for the awards ceremony to begin. Speaking of awards, our club did well with many bringing home Gold, Silver, or Bronze awards.

Overall, I think everyone had a great time and made some lasting memories.

If you can spare some time on Friday (9/21/18) afternoon between 2PM & 6PM, Melba Henson could use your help. Ron & Melba Henson were part of the original group that started the BR Mustangers and they were longtime members until Ron’s unfortunate passing some years ago due to Huntington Disease. Melba is now selling their house and needs help moving some things from the attic and moving some furniture outside for a garage sale. If you cannot make that time slot but still want to help, just contact Melba at one of the numbers below and I’m sure something can be worked out. Here is the location and contact information:

5356 Bull Run Drive; Baton Rouge, LA 70817

Phones (area code 225): 756-2908 / 939-6137

At one of our previous meetings, I mentioned that the Mustang 55th birthday comes up in 2019 and that a big event was being planned in Charlotte, NC. At that time, there was some question if this was an official MCA sanctioned 55th Celebration or if this was something being promoted by the Mustang Owner’s Museum. I have searched the forums on the MCA website and the following describes what I have learned as of now.

The event in Charlotte is being promoted by the group associated with the Mustang Owner’s Museum. This event will celebrate the Mustang’s 55th birthday (April 17, 2019) and it will also celebrate the official opening of the Mustang Owner’s Museum. At this time, neither MCA or Ford is involved with this event not that either entity is against supporting it. MCA was “burned” in the early 90’s by the first attempt at establishing a Mustang museum so MCA has not been involved with the Mustang Owner’s Museum. I have not found anything concerning Ford’s official position on the Mustang Owner’s Museum but they must have at least given consent to use “Mustang” in their name.

MCA has not done any planning for a 55th Celebration similar to the events put on for the 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, and 50th. You may remember that MCA was heavily criticized for the dual locations (Las Vegas and Charlotte) utilized for the 50th Celebration and I think attendance at that event was not up to expectations. Maybe due to that experience or maybe just because a 55th is not as significant as a 50th, MCA decided that it would not plan any event in the April timeframe to mark the birthday. Instead, MCA plans to “celebrate” the birthday at all of the national shows during 2019 and is adding an additional show/track event in July 2019 in Topeka, KS. Location has not been announced but could be Heartland Motorsports Park.

So, what things boil down to seems to be this. If you want to attend an event that encompasses the true Mustang birth date (April 17th), than you should plan to attend the “55 Years of Mustang” and Mustang Owner’s Museum Grand Opening in Charlotte, NC on April 17-20, 2019. The Grand Opening activities will be at the museum building location and the “55 Years of Mustang” show will be located at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A “MOM’s Mustang Drive to 55” is also being planned. It will start in Stockton, CA at Mustangs Plus on April 8th and arrive in Charlotte, NC on April 15th. Preliminary plans seem to have the Drive go through Mustang, OK; Memphis, TN; Nashville, TN; run the Tail of the Dragon (TN/NC border by the Smokies); and then on to Charlotte. There is information about the Drive on the MOM website (https://www.mustangownersmuseum.com) or you can email [email protected].

I will update this post as I learn more about this event.

——– Jim